Transport facility for autonomous navigation and method for determining damage to a motor vehicle

Abstract

Damage caused by accidents that occur during autonomous driving of a motor vehicle should be reliably detected. For this purpose, a transport facility with a driving area which can be autonomously driven by a motor vehicle, has a detection device for detecting a first state of the motor vehicle in an entrance area outside the driving area and for detecting a second state in an exit area located within the driving area. In addition, transport facility has an evaluation device for determining a possible difference between the second state and the first state relating to damage of the motor vehicle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the priority of German Patent Application, Serial No. 10 2012 017 497.7, filed Aug. 17, 2012, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a transport facility with a driving area that can be autonomously navigated by a motor vehicle. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for determining damage to a motor vehicle.[0003]The following discussion of related art is provided to assist the reader in understanding the advantages of the invention, and is not to be construed as an admission that this related art is prior art to this invention.[0004]During operation, motor vehicles are occasionally damaged. Some of the damage is repaired immediately and sometimes the damage is not repaired or repaired later. If the motor vehicle is again damaged and the ex...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a system that detects if there is any damage to a vehicle during autonomous driving. This is done by analyzing the initial state of the vehicle before it starts to drive and the final state it reaches after completing the autonomous driving. By categorizing the vehicle based on the data collected from the detection device, the system can detect any damage to the outer skin of the vehicle. This helps to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of the driver and other occupants of the vehicle.

Problems solved by technology

During operation, motor vehicles are occasionally damaged.

If the motor vehicle is again damaged and the extent of the damage caused by the second event is to be detected, then this can usually not be identified unambiguously.

This frequently creates a situation that in an accident with a vehicle that had prior accident damage, repairs are improperly charged to the last person responsible for the accident.

Another problem regarding the detection of collision damage can occur in autonomous driving where the vehicle drives fully automatically.

With such fully automated systems, it cannot be excluded that the responsibility for collision damage passes to the system and thus to the vehicle manufacturer or a specialized company.

Similar challenges with detection of accident damage occur even with vehicles that are manually operated by people.

However, this solution has not been taken hold for many reasons.

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